We’re back! Kicking off a new series run of Behind the Lines is Professor of History at UCD, Paul Rouse. Get the full episode by subscribing to The42 now! Across a sprawling, fascinating conversation, we discuss Paul’s new book, Sport in Modern Irish Life, and how he broke new ground to give sport the academic rigour and respect it warrants. Paul explains why ‘sportswashing’ does not adequately explain the involvement of nation states in modern sport, and we also discuss how the GAA adopted convenient but false stories in its early decades to align itself with political nationalism. Why did the GAA do this, what damage did it cause, and what is the legacy of this mythmaking today? Paul also lays out the difficult questions the GAA must ask itself to make itself fit for purpose in modern-day Ireland. Paul also defends the spectacle of modern-day Gaelic football, explains what everyone got wrong about Saipan, and runs us through his lecture series on Muhammad Ali and picks the sportsperson whose career and life could be used to explain the world today. Writing-wise, Paul recommends: The Pursuit of Perfection: The Life, Death and Legacy of Cormac McAnallen by Dónal McAnallen The Hurley Maker’s Son by Patrick Deeley The Grass Ceiling by Eimear Ryan

In the fourth and penultimate episode of The42’s exclusive podcast series ‘On the Right Wing’, Enda Coll explores the role that former football hooligans played in the establishment and rise of the right-wing group The English Defence League. With Professor Jon Garland from the University of Surrey, they track the birth of the group, the overlap in those involved with previous football firm members, and the EDL stands out as a unique occurrence. Plus, Senior football news reporter with the Athletic, Matt Slater joins to discuss the improvement in fan behaviour through the 1990s and beyond, but how there was fear that antisocial behavior was on the rise in the post-COVID seasons.

In the third episode of the series, Enda Coll explores the world of Italian football and why the league has historically had issues with fascist showcasing inside their grounds. To do so, he goes back in time with Simon - author of 'Football and Fascism: The National Game under Mussolini' - to understand how much Italy's fascist past impacts the modern-day league. Plus, Italian football writer Paddy Agnew explains how organised crime has infiltrated the stadiums, how they use the ultra movement to their advantage and the issues the authorities have had when trying to deal with it.

In a special edition of Behind the Lines, The Journal Editor, Sinead O'Carroll takes over hosting duties of the podcast. She's joined in studio by journalist and broadcaster Cliona Foley, by Irish Times sports writer Mary Hannigan and by The 42's Emma Duffy. They discuss their careers working in the sports media as women, the early days of covering women's sport and how it has developed, the struggles they still face fighting for proper coverage of women's sport and they look ahead to the excitement of the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In the second episode of the series, Enda Coll explores the world of German football and its heterogeneous fan culture. Charting the rise of hooliganism in the country from the 1980's onwards, he looks at the clamping down on football by authorities after the World Cup in France in 1998, the rise of the Ultra scene, the role that some football hooligans played in the anti-lockdown protests during COVID and the Neo-Nazis in that group, who are training professionally in gyms. Get the full podcast by subscribing - The42.ie/podcasts/

On The Right Wing - Neymar's backing of Bolsonaro by The42

Enda Coll, David Sneyd and Shane Keegan look at Gavin Bazunu's season with Southampton and what the future holds for the young goalkeeper. Get the full Football Family podcast by subscribing to The 42 - The42.ie/subscribe/

Gavin Cooney joins David Sneyd and Shane Keegan in the aftermath of the World Cup final as he attempts to sum up what this means to Messi and Argentina.

It has been a Lions Tour riddled with setbacks, but Saturday sees Warren Gatland's side face the reigning world champions South Africa in the first of three Tests. To preview the opening game in Cape Town as well as the series as a whole, The42's Gavan Casey and Ciaran Kennedy are joined by South African rugby writer Brenden Nel, who gives his take on events so far. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org

Ireland may not be there, but the European Championship kicks off on Friday - a year later than originally scheduled. Miguel Delaney, The Independent's chief football writer, AFP football correspondent Kieran Canning and football writer and broadcaster Tom Williams join Gavin Cooney to preview the tournament on the latest episode of The Punt. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org

A free clip from this week's episode of the Behind The Lines sportswriting podcast as South American football expert Tim Vickery joins Gavin Cooney.